LOS ANGELES, Calif. — A Los Angeles jury has found Nicole Linton guilty of six counts of second-degree murder in the August 2022 Windsor Hills crash, one of the deadliest and most harrowing traffic cases in recent Southern California history. The verdict, reported October 2, 2026, closes a chapter that began when a speeding Mercedes-Benz tore through a busy South Los Angeles intersection and left six people dead, including a pregnant mother and her infant son.

The Crash That Shocked Los Angeles

Prosecutors said Linton, 41, drove through a red light at Slauson and La Brea Avenues at an estimated 100 mph in a 35 mph zone. Her vehicle broadsided another car, which burst into flames, and the violent chain reaction ultimately involved eight vehicles. Surveillance video of the collision, shown to jurors, captured the force of the impact and the speed of the vehicle.

Among the dead were Asherey Ryan, 23, who was pregnant, and her unborn son; her boyfriend, Reynold Lester, 24; and her infant son Alonzo, who was nearly one year old. Lynette Noble, 38, and Nathesia Lewis, 43, also lost their lives. The crash devastated multiple families and left a community grappling with how such a catastrophe could happen on an ordinary afternoon.

What Prosecutors Argued

To secure a second-degree murder conviction, rather than a lesser vehicular manslaughter charge, prosecutors had to persuade jurors that Linton acted with conscious disregard for human life. They pointed to the extreme speed, the decision to run a red light in a dense urban corridor, and a pattern of risk surrounding her driving. According to reporting on the trial, prosecutors noted her problematic driving record and the fact that she did not hold a valid California driver's license.

Prosecutors also referenced her history of mental health issues in laying out the circumstances of the case. The question of her mental state has been central to the litigation over the years, and it shaped how both sides framed what happened in the moments before impact.

A Family's Anguish

For relatives of the victims, the verdict represents long-awaited accountability. Asherey Ryan's sister said of the crash: "This was not an accident. This was someone who wanted to take himself out and others with her." The statement reflects the position of many family members who have long argued that the case should never have been characterized as a simple traffic collision.

The families have waited more than four years for a verdict. Courtroom observers described an emotional atmosphere throughout the trial, with relatives reliving the loss of children, partners and loved ones as video and testimony were presented.

The Legal Significance of Second-Degree Murder

Murder charges in vehicle cases are relatively uncommon in California because prosecutors must show implied malice, meaning the driver knew the conduct was dangerous to life and acted with conscious disregard anyway. Legal analysts often point to a series of California court rulings that allow such charges when the driving is extreme enough and other aggravating factors are present. A conviction on all six counts signals that jurors accepted that the crash crossed the line from reckless driving into homicide.

Second-degree murder in California carries a potential sentence of 15 years to life for each count, and judges have discretion over whether sentences run concurrently or consecutively. A sentencing date was not immediately reported in the coverage reviewed by USA Herald, and the court's schedule should be confirmed with the Los Angeles County Superior Court.

Mental Health, Responsibility and the Road

The case has also fueled a broader public conversation about the intersection of mental health, driver licensing and public safety. Advocates say the tragedy underscores gaps in how the system identifies and responds to people in crisis who may pose a danger on the road. Others caution against drawing sweeping conclusions from a single case and stress that most people living with mental health conditions are not dangerous.

The verdict does not end the legal story. Defense lawyers may seek post-trial relief or appeal, and the sentencing phase will put the lengths of the punishments squarely in the public eye. For the families, the conviction offers an answer to a question they have carried since 2022, but not the return of the people they lost.

What Comes Next

Attention now turns to sentencing, where victim impact statements are expected to carry great weight. Residents of Windsor Hills and surrounding neighborhoods, who have lived with the memory of the crash and its aftermath at that intersection, are expected to follow the proceedings closely. USA Herald will update this story as new details emerge.

This article is based on reporting from CBS Los Angeles, FOX 11 Los Angeles, The Pride LA and other published accounts.